The college basketball season is less than two months old, yet it’s already becoming clear who is capable of winning a national championship.

As conference play begins in earnest, there’s no more easy victories against cupcakes, and you find if your team is the real deal or not.

Some squads have already proven themselves and look like they’re on a warpath toward the Final Four in Indianapolis. Others maybe don’t have those impressive victories, but their records can’t be denied and may be worth paying attention to.

Which ones have the best shot at cutting down the nets inside Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6? We rank the top 10 candidates, as well as teams just on the outside and those intriguing options that still have some more to prove as nonconference play ends.

Potential/wait-and-see

∎ Vanderbilt, Nebraska, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Virginia, Southern California, Georgia

This field features a mix of surprises but also teams who haven’t lived up to preseason hype just yet. It starts with Vanderbilt and Nebraska, two teams that are still undefeated and playing great ball. However, the schedule hasn’t been challenging yet. The same could be said for one-loss teams in Virginia, USC and Georgia.

Then there’s Arkansas, Tennessee and Illinois, teams that have stumbled against some top talent but have picked up some notable wins in between. It’s obvious what’s holding them back, and when those issues are fixed, it’s led to those important Quad 1 wins. It’s just a matter of whether they can find consistency to put some more belief in.

Just on the outside

∎ North Carolina, Louisville, Kansas, Alabama, Texas Tech

A group of teams that are bound for the second weekend of the NCAA tournament, but that’s not the ceiling. North Carolina doesn’t look like a bubble team anymore and just needs some more key wins. Louisville’s offense is elite but hasn’t been on every night. Despite Kansas, Alabama and Texas Tech having had some bad nights against top-tier competition, each of them has responded well and at full strength and can compete with anyone.

Top 10 national title contenders

10. Houston

Last season’s national runner-up reloaded with a tremendous recruiting class and is back to making life difficult for opposing offenses. The only issue has been the Cougars haven’t played to the same level with the ball, leading to some results that are too close for comfort. Despite that, Houston is still 11-1 and the inexperienced players on the team are only going to get better, and its already showing. It won’t be long before they fit the mold of what a Kelvin Sampson team looks like.

9. BYU

The hype of AJ Dybantsa’s arrival has been backed up with a 12-1 start to the season. To try and prove it was legit, BYU scheduled a worthy nonconference slate, and it’s done the job with a 3-1 Quad 1 record, the lone blemish a two-point loss to Connecticut. However, the wins have lost some luster as they weren’t as noteworthy as initially hoped. So, this remains a largely untested team. That shouldn’t be a reason to sell any Cougars stock, as BYU should more than hold its own against a crowded Big 12.

8. Michigan State

Tom Izzo still has it with Sparty off to another incredible start to the season. Michigan State is 11-1 and not only has it picked up wins against Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Iowa, but the Spartans mostly looked far superior in those outings. The lone loss was a tough one to Duke that just got away. The mix of young and veterans has blended well with Jeremy Fears Jr. playing like an All-American guard. The offense has slowed down a bit, but there isn’t a reason Michigan State shouldn’t be able to defend its Big Ten regular-season title.

7. Purdue

The preseason No. 1 team certainly looks capable of finishing the season in that spot with some dominant showings against quality opponents in Alabama, Texas Tech and Auburn. The only thing preventing it from being in the top five was the dreaded home blowout to Iowa State. Maybe that loss was what Purdue needed as its been crushing teams since then. The Boilermakers are elite on both sides of the ball, and Braden Smith is en route to national player of the year consideration, leading the country in assists per game (9.6).

6. Gonzaga

Another competitive nonconference schedule, another season of Gonzaga proving its a powerful force. The Bulldogs have ran right through nearly everyone they’ve played with double-digit victories in 11 of its 12 wins. No team is better at getting the ball in the hoop, averaging a nation-leading 34.8 made shots per game. But when the Zags played in what many thought was a national championship game preview against Michigan, they stood no chance in a 30-point romp to the Wolverines. Best believe that’s going to be on Gonzaga’s mind the rest of the season as it is poised to run through the West Coast Conference one last time.

5. Duke

Everyone though last season’s Duke team — led by Cooper Flagg — was one of its best in recent memory. There’s a chance this one is even better than the 2024-25 Final Four squad. The Blue Devils have been incredible to watch so far, passing nearly every test that’s been thrown at them. They’ve been able to win at home, on the road or at neutral sites, and it’s all thanks to arguably the best freshman in the country so far in Cameron Boozer, who leads Division I with 23.2 points per game. They shoot the ball well but the defense is even better, allowing more than 75 points only once in the one-point loss to Texas Tech. Jon Scheyer has a great chance for back-to-back Final Four appearances for the first time since the program went to five straight from 1988-92.

4. Iowa State

It’s time to put some respect on Iowa State, which has continuously proven it is not to be messed with. The 12-0 Cyclones have been relentless offensively, shooting 53.4% from the field, second-best in the country, along with a 41.6% mark from 3-point (fourth in Division I). It’s hard to keep up with when Iowa State is forcing more than 18 turnovers a game. The Cyclones don’t own many ranked wins, but there may be no greater win so far for any team than the 23-point rout it put on Purdue in Mackey Arena. Iowa State has so much experience spread out in its rotation and that veteran-led group can get the Cyclones to the Final Four for the first time since 1944.

3. Connecticut

Dan Hurley has shaken off the up-and-down 2024-25 results and has assembled the right roster to put the Huskies right back in the national championship picture. The defense has been what’s gotten UConn back to being a dominant force, ranking sixth in scoring defense, giving up just 61.1 points per game. It had a really loaded first month of the season that included five ranked opponents in four weeks. The Huskies went 4-1 with the only loss at home to Arizona, and it got wins over BYU and at Kansas. The Huskies have proven they can win away from home and look miles ahead of the rest of the Big East, which means a No. 1 seed and playing close to home is very much in play for UConn to go for a third title in four seasons.

2. Arizona

1. Michigan

The top national championship contender is the most dominant team in the country, as Michigan has stormed its way through the start of the season. The additions of Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara have given Dusty May one of the most lethal units that is blowing out nearly everyone it plays. After a couple of close early wins, the Wolverines have won by double-digits in its past eight games, with an average margin of victory at 34.3 points. That includes the perfect showing at the Players Era Festival that was capped by the 40-point win over Gonzaga. It averages 95.4 points per game and has eclipsed the century mark in five of its past six games. It doesn’t look like this team is slowling down, and it looks like it will run through what it already a challenging Big Ten. Everything about Michigan screams a team that can win it all.

• Much of the NFL playoff picture has been resolved after Week 17, but there’s still a wild chase for the top seeds in each conference.
• The NFC South could come down to a Week 18 meeting between the Panthers and Buccaneers … provided the Falcons don’t throw a wrench into things.
• The AFC North champion will be decided by the Steelers and Ravens’ showdown after Pittsburgh stumbled against Cleveland.

The 32 things we learned from Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season:

0. The number of losses suffered on the road this season by the New England Patriots, who wound up with their first AFC East title in six years by Sunday’s end. Their 42-10 rout of the New York Jets made the Pats the second team (along with the San Francisco 49ers) to have three undefeated seasons on the road since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

1. As in the Las Vegas Raiders, who now occupy the top spot of the 2026 NFL Draft after (decisively) losing Sunday’s game to the New York Giants in a matchup of teams that were 2-13 entering the weekend.

2. The number of playoff spots available heading into Week 18 – basically the still unclaimed titles in the AFC North and NFC South. It seems likely the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers plus the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will decide who wins those crowns on the field … unless the Atlanta Falcons keep winning and throw a minor wrench into the NFC South showdown. (If all three teams finish 8-9, the Panthers win the division due to a 3-1 record against the other two squads.)

3. The number of net passing yards the Minnesota Vikings had in their Christmas win over the Detroit Lions, who were eliminated by the Vikes despite their defensive effort – which included seven sacks (for minus-48 yards) of Minnesota rookie QB Max Brosmer.

4. The jersey number of suspended Steelers WR DK Metcalf. Think the team could have used him Sunday in a game it lost 13-6 to the lowly Cleveland Browns? Pittsburgh, which had just 160 net passing yards in its defeat, blew a chance to win the AFC North and will now have to do so by sweeping the archrival Baltimore Ravens in Week 18 at Acrisure Stadium.

5. The number of TD passes thrown Sunday by Patriots QB Drake Maye, a career high, in what was something of a historic performance. Was it enough to cap a league MVP résumé? LA Rams QB Matthew Stafford gets to respond Monday night in Atlanta.

6. The jersey number of New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough, who outplayed fellow rookie QB Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans on Sunday while leading the Saints to a fourth straight win. New Orleans WR Chris Olave certainly thinks Shough has done enough to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

7. The number of times Ravens RB Derrick Henry has rushed for 200 yards in a game – as he did during Saturday night’s victory in Green Bay − during his 10-year career, the most in NFL history. His 216 yards were the most ever by an opposing player at Lambeau Field.

8. Henry also tied his career high with four TD runs against the Packers and now has 122 in his career, fourth most ever. With two more, he’ll overtake Hall of Famer Marcus Allen for third place.

9. But maybe the craziest stat from Henry’s huge night was his career-high (in the NFL anyway) 36 carries.

9a. FWIW, Henry had at least 36 carries (including 46 on one occasion) four different times while at the University of Alabama. Nick Saban – not worried about tread on the tires.

10. The number of catches Sunday for the Arizona Cardinals’ Trey McBride, giving him 119 in 2025 – a new single-season record for a tight end.

11. Anybody want to win the NFC South? The Buccaneers and Panthers both lost Sunday – and that’s seven defeats in the last eight outings for the Bucs, who’ve won the division every year since 2021.

12. Carolina last won the division in 2015 … when they also reached Super Bowl 50 … which was staged in Santa Clara, Calif. … as it will be this season. The same is true of the Denver Broncos, who won that Super Bowl, Peyton Manning’s final NFL game.

13. The number of games (at least) Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold has won each of the past two seasons … putting him in pretty select company. He’s the only one of the bunch to manage this while playing for two different teams after he came over from the Vikings earlier this year.

14. The jersey number of former NFL QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. If only he’d been wearing it Thursday night in Kansas City while on Prime Video’s postgame desk.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has rushed for nine TDs this season, nearly double his previous career high (5). His team will claim the AFC South with one more win.

16. Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, 29, accounted for his 300th career regular-season TD on Sunday in his 127th game, making him the fastest ever to reach the mark.

17. The jersey number of Indianapolis Colts QB Philip Rivers. If this was truly it … shoot, we must admit your three-game return livened up December.

18. Unfortunately, the Colts became the first team in 30 years to miss the playoffs after a 7-1 start.

19. The San Francisco 49ers’ Thomas Morstead punted Sunday night … for the first time since November.

20. Elsewhere, the Packers haven’t punted in their past two games … yet managed to lose both – the first team to ever go 0-2 in such an instance.

21. The number of yards covered by Cincinnati Bengals OT Cody Ford’s first career reception after he hooked up with QB Joe Burrow. Sunday was Ford’s 29th birthday.

21a. Per the league’s research department, Ford’s play set a new record among big men.

22.Stillthe number of sacks Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett has this season – still one shy of breaking the single-season record of 22½, which has been achieved twice since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

23. Garrett had 21½ in his first fourteen games but just a half-sack in his past two.

24. He didn’t bag QB Aaron Rodgers in Sunday’s upset of the Steelers, the first time Garrett had been held sack-less since Oct. 12.

25. Like the Eagles? The father-son play-by-play duo of Ian and Noah Eagle worked called four NFL games between Christmas and Sunday.

26. Like the Eagles? Philadelphia is now 11-5, the team’s modest three-game winning streak extended by Sunday’s win at Buffalo.

27. The defending Super Bowl champions can’t earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed, yet they didn’t have it last season, either – and that worked out pretty well.

28. Speaking of top seeds, the Broncos and Seahawks need one more victory to secure them in the AFC and NFC, respectively. Super Bowl 48 rematch, anyone?

29. Denver’s Sean Payton joined Bill Belichick as the only head coaches in league history to win at least 13 regular-season games in at least five different seasons.  

30. The Houston Texans became the only team to make the playoffs on two separate occasions following an 0-3 start to a season.

31. Per NBC, Niners QB Brock Purdy became the first player ever to pass for a TD, rush for a TD and throw a pick-six all in the first quarter of a game.

32. Week 18, folks, when much will be decided going into the Super Bowl 60 tournament … even as 18 teams go away until next season. Enjoy.

The world junior hockey championship is in full swing right now and we’ve already seen some of the big names rise to the top. In my previous round-up of NCAA talents repping their nations at the tourney, I highlighted players such as Penn State’s Gavin McKenna, the likely first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and Vaclav Nestrasil of UMass, a Chicago Blackhawks first-rounder. Well, both players are among the scoring leaders in the world juniors early on and they still have a lot of hockey to go. 

This week, let’s switch the focus to players outside of the NCAA who are at the tournament. Some Canadians, such as Calgary’s Zayne Parekh and San Jose’s Michael Misa, were loaned out by their NHL teams, so I wouldn’t call them ‘prospects’ anymore. But there are still a ton of NHL prospects to keep an eye on, so let’s take a look at 10 names you should know as the world juniors continue.

1. Anton Frondell, C, Sweden

Drafted third overall by Chicago in 2025, Frondell is a big, two-way center with a great shot. He’s lethal on the power play and has already been playing against men back home in Sweden where, last year, he helped Djurgarden earn promotion to the SHL. This season, he’s been on fire and if Sweden wins gold, Frondell will be a big factor.

2. Victor Eklund, RW, Sweden

Taken in the first round of the 2025 draft by the New York Islanders, Eklund isn’t the biggest player on the ice, but he plays like it. The kid has an unceasing motor and a lot of skill to go with it. His brother William is already in the NHL with San Jose and based on the way Victor has played against men back in Sweden, his future is just as bright.

3. Ivar Stenberg, LW, Sweden

A potential lottery pick in the 2026 draft, Stenberg has put up numbers in the SHL that, frankly, we have rarely seen from a teenager. The younger brother of St. Louis Blues rookie Otto Stenberg, Ivar is a great skater with high-end skill. Some pundits believe he could even push McKenna for first overall.

4. Alberts Smits, D, Latvia

Simply put, Latvia has never had a high-end prospect like Smits. He’s a big, minute-munching defenseman who can contribute at both ends and he has already looked solid at this year’s world juniors, despite the fact he just turned 18 in early December. Smits could very well be taken in the top 10 of the 2026 draft.

5. Brady Martin, C, Canada

After making Nashville out of camp, Martin was re-assigned to junior after playing three games with the Predators. Since then, he has put up more than a point per game in junior. A physical, two-way player with skill, Martin grew up on a farm in Ontario and is much stronger than his mid-sized frame would indicate. He’s going to be a weapon for Canada.

6. Michal Pradel, G, Slovakia

While Slovakia brought a young team bereft of big-name NHL prospects, they do have solid goaltending, led by Pradel. A Detroit Red Wings draft pick who plays junior over here with Tri-City of the USHL, the Slovakian national has great size and kicked off his world juniors with a great effort against Germany for his team’s first win.

7. Adam Jiricek, D, Czechia

The first of three Czechs who are playing junior in the Ontario League with Brantford this year, Jiricek is a St. Louis Blues prospect with a lot of great tools. He’s big, he’s physical and he can put the puck in the net. The younger brother of defenseman David Jiricek, Adam will be key to Czechia’s gold-medal hopes.

8. Adam Benak, C, Czechia

The second Czech from Brantford (defenseman Vladimir Dravecky is the third), Benak is an incredibly dangerous offensive weapon. At 5-foot-7, he doesn’t have ideal NHL size, which is why the Minnesota Wild were able to draft him in the fourth round in 2025. So far, the gamble has paid off, as Benak has been one of the leading scorers in the OHL.

9. Petteri Rimpinen, G, Finland

A star from last year’s tournament returns with a clear mandate: Get that gold medal that was oh-so-close when Rimpinen helped the Finns all the way to the final. They lost to a loaded Team USA, but Rimpinen, now a Los Angeles Kings prospect, put himself on the map with an incredible performance that landed him Top Goalie honors.

10. Radim Mrtka, D, Czechia

Due to an injury recovery, Mrtka did not play in Czechia’s first couple of games, but they are waiting for him because they know how crucial the Buffalo Sabres first-rounder is to their success. Mrtka is a towering two-way defenseman who played in the minors this year before being re-assigned to junior.

As if they hadn’t already been a thorn in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ sides, the Atlanta Falcons have a unique opportunity to end the Bucs’ four-year reign atop the NFC South.

Come again?

You’re probably thinking that the Falcons (6-9) had already been eliminated from playoff contention. This is true. You’re probably thinking that the Falcons had already salvaged a season split of their annual series with the Bucs after engineering a 29-28 upset in Tampa earlier this month. This is true.

You’re probably thinking the winner of the Week 18 contest between the Buccaneers (7-9) and Carolina Panthers (8-8) will win the division and advance as the NFC South’s only entry into the playoff field − Tampa Bay holding the pertinent common-games tiebreaker edge over Carolina.

Maybe.

That’s because the Falcons, who host the Los Angeles Rams on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 17, could still interject themselves into the mix, unlikely a scenario as it is.

First, give the Falcons credit given how easy it would have been to pack it in given a once-promising season went off the rails as they lost nine of their first 13 games, inconsistency and injuries to key players − like quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Drake London − playing major roles in undermining the Dirty Birds. Atlanta hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2017. Yet they’ve won their past two games, starting with that unexpected victory at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 11. And what that also means is that the Falcons, Panthers and Buccaneers could all wind up with 8-9 records.

How does NFL break a three-way tie?

The league’s sometimes complex procedures for sorting out ties among teams with the same record apply differently to a division than to, say, three teams from different divisions chasing a wild-card berth. In this scenario, the determining tiebreaker would be:

Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).

If the Panthers were to lose to the Bucs in Week 18, they’d finish with a 3-1 collective record against Atlanta and Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers would finish 2-2 in those games, while the Falcons would be 1-3 − ergo, Carolina’s 8-9 record would confer it the NFC South scenario under those circumstances.

How does NFL break a two-way tie?

Again, the rules apply differently to teams in the same division versus those that might have the same record from different ones. But if the Falcons don’t get to 8-9, but Carolina and Tampa Bay do, then the determining tiebreakers would be:

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs). The Panthers and Bucs split in this scenario.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division. The Panthers and Bucs would both be 3-3 in this scenario.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games. The Panthers have a 5-7 record among common opponents, while the Bucs are 6-6 − meaning Tampa Bay would win the division if only tied with Carolina.

What do Rams have at stake in Week 17?

At this point? Not very much. The San Francisco 49ers’ win Sunday night ended any hopes the Rams had of winning the NFC West or the conference’s No. 1 seed. They’re assured of a wild card, the only remaining question whether they’ll be the No. 5 overall seed or the sixth. How does that inform how they approach the Atlanta game? TBD. However it’s worth noting that the fifth-seeded team will play either at Tampa or in Charlotte for the wild-card opener. That would seem favorable, though the Panthers beat the Rams in Week 13.

Regardless, suffice it to say that Buccaneers fans will be rooting for LA on Monday and, if need be, the New Orleans Saints in Week 18.

Every week for the duration of the 2025 regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the NFL’s ever-evolving playoff picture – typically starting Sunday afternoon and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable. And, when the holidays roll around, we’ll be watching then, too).

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized Sunday, Jan. 4.

Here’s where things stand with Week 17 nearly complete:

AFC playoff picture

y − 1. Denver Broncos (13-3), AFC West champions: After surviving the Chiefs on Christmas night, win in Week 18, and Denver gets the top seed … but can’t in Week 17. The Bolts’ loss Saturday wrapped up the Broncos’ first division title in a decade − which was also the last time they won the Super Bowl. Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers

y − 2. New England Patriots (13-3), AFC East champions: After blowing out the Jets on Sunday, they wound up with their first division title since 2019 after Buffalo lost to Philadelphia. The Pats are just a tiebreaker (common games) of sitting atop the conference and could get the top seed in Week 18 if they win and Denver loses. Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins.

x − 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4), AFC South leaders: They won their eighth straight but need one more to lock up the division. A victory combined with defeats for Denver and New England lands the No. 1 seed in Duval County. Lose, and Houston can keep the AFC South with a win. Remaining schedule: at Titans

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7), AFC North leaders: They failed to win the division crown at Cleveland. Now they’ll have to beat Baltimore in Week 18. Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens

x − 5. Houston Texans (11-5), wild card No. 1: They’ve won nine of 10, including eight in a row after Saturday’s triumph over the Chargers, but haven’t been able to overtake similarly surging Jacksonville yet for the top spot in the AFC South. Still, Saturday’s victory over the Bolts clinched at least a wild-card berth for Houston, which has a shot to win the division for a third straight season − now needing just a Week 18 win and loss by the Jags. The Texans’ victory officially eliminated Indianapolis. Their sweep of the Chargers and Bills currently has them sitting in the fifth seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Colts

x − 6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5), wild card No. 2: Saturday’s stumble against Houston ended their bid to rally for the AFC West title. Now the Bolts will have to chart their postseason path as a wild-card entrant. Remaining schedule: at Broncos

x − 7. Buffalo Bills (11-5), wild card No. 3: Sunday’s oh-so-narrow loss to Philadelphia wiped out their hopes of a sixth straight AFC East title. The Bills fall to the seventh spot due to the Chargers’ two-game advantage (5-1) in the common-games tiebreaker. Remaining schedule: vs. Jets

9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8), in the hunt: (The eliminated Colts are technically in eighth place in the AFC.) Saturday night’s win in Green Bay plus Pittsburgh’s loss means the Steelers and Ravens will vie for the AFC North crown in Week 18. Remaining schedule: at Steelers

NFC playoff picture

x − 1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3), NFC West leaders: Win in Week 18, and they secure the division and NFC’s top seed. Remaining schedule: at 49ers

y − 2. Chicago Bears (11-5), NFC North champions: Green Bay’s loss Saturday night was doubly sweet, as it also wrapped up the division title for Da Bears. However coming up short in Sunday night’s thriller at San Francisco means Chicago can’t get the No. 1 seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Lions

y – 3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5), NFC East champions: They can’t get into the top spot but could still reach the second seed … which got them to the Super Bowl last season. With Week 16’s defeat of Washington, Philly became the first team this season to wrap up a division in 2025 − and the first to win this division in successive years since they last did it 21 years ago. Remaining schedule: vs. Commanders

4. Carolina Panthers (8-8), NFC South leaders: They blew an opportunity to wrap up the division Sunday. A Week 18 defeat of Tampa Bay will still do the job. Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers

x − 5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4), wild card No. 1: Win out, which would entail completing a season sweep of Seattle on the final weekend of the regular season, and the Niners would get the top seed. Continue winning, and they won’t leave their building again this season − which would mean playing Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium. A 4-1 record in NFC West games moved them ahead of the Rams last Monday. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks

x − 6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4), wild card No. 2: They became the first team to clinch a playoff spot but lost the pathway to home-field advantage and a first-round bye after failing to sweep Seattle. San Francisco’s win Sunday night ended the possibility of LA winning the NFC West or getting the No. 1 seed. Remaining schedule: at Falcons, vs. Cardinals

x − 7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1), wild card No. 3: The Lions’ Christmas night loss put the battered Pack into the field. But Saturday night’s loss to Baltimore means Green Bay locks in as the No. 7 seed and won’t play another game at Lambeau Field this season. Remaining schedule: at Vikings

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9), in the hunt: (Their record is actually worse than the Vikings’, Lions’ and Cowboys’ in the overall NFC standings, hence the 11th place designation.) Their loss to lowly Miami would have done them in … had the Panthers not bailed the Bucs out by also losing. Now the teams will face off in Week 18, the winner taking the NFC South crown − assuming Atlanta loses one of its final two games. If all three clubs finish 8-9, the tiebreaker would go to Carolina given the Panthers’ 3-1 record against the other two squads would confer priority. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 18 (incomplete)

Denver clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win

New England clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win + Broncos loss

Jacksonville clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win + Broncos loss + Patriots loss

Jacksonville clinches AFC South with:

Win

Houston clinches AFC South with:

Win + Jaguars loss

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North with:

Win or tie

Baltimore clinches AFC North with:

Win

Seattle clinches NFC West and NFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win or tie

San Francisco clinches NFC West and NFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win

Carolina clinches NFC South with:

Win or tie

Tampa Bay clinches NFC South with:

Win + one Falcons loss (either Week 17 or 18)

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2025

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

z – clinched home-field advantage, first-round bye

The San Francisco 49ers earned a critical win in a 42-38 shootout against the Chicago Bears on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 17 to keep themselves alive in the NFC West race.

While offense was the name of the game at Levi’s Stadium throughout Sunday’s action, it was a key defensive stand that sealed the San Francisco victory.

Caleb Williams and the Bears did everything in their power to mount a game-winning drive in the final 2:15 of regulation. Ben Johnson’s team managed to quickly matriculate the ball down the field and survive a fourth-and-5 to set the team up with a goal-to-go opportunity with four seconds remaining.

The Bears were out of timeouts when Williams spiked the ball on first-and-goal to stop the clock after Colston Loveland and D’Andre Swift used a hook-and-ladder play to put Chicago on the 2-yard line. With such little time remaining, the Bears had time for just one shot into the end zone.

Williams snapped the ball on second down and tried to find an open receiver. Nobody broke open immediately before Bryce Huff pressured the second-year quarterback, flushing him to his left. Williams was able to continue surveying the field but still couldn’t find anyone open.

Eventually, Yetur Gross-Matos got pressure in Williams’ face, and the quarterback was forced to just throw the ball at will. It fell harmless to the ground in the end zone, sealing San Francisco’s win.

The 49ers’ victory will give them a chance to earn an NFC West title and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC in Week 18. They need only beat the Seattle Seahawks head-to-head to earn both honors.

Meanwhile, the Bears have been eliminated from the race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed and will instead be locked into either the conference’s No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the league’s playoff picture.

49ers vs. Bears SNF takeaways

• The 49ers offense is good enough to win a Super Bowl. The 49ers marched the ball down the field at will against the Bears on ‘Sunday Night Football’ despite being without George Kittle and losing left tackle Trent Williams on the first play of the game. Brock Purdy was efficient again, making several spectacular throws on the run and totaling five touchdowns for the second time in as many games. Christian McCaffrey handled 27 touches and turned them into 181 yards and a score, showing off his explosive playmaking ability on the ground and through the air. San Francisco simply has so many ways to beat its opponents and if the team can get fully healthy before their first playoff game, they have a legitimate chance to go on a Super Bowl run.
• The Bears offense might also be title-worthy. Caleb Williams continues to show growth under Ben Johnson. Rookies Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland are also coming along nicely, while Chicago sports one of the most productive running games in the NFL. The main difference between the 49ers and Bears is seasoning, as Williams is in just his first season working with Johnson. Occasionally, some growing pains pop up – live Burden and Loveland’s drops on Chicago’s final drive – but there’s plenty to like about what the Bears are doing. If Chicago’s offense plays as it did against the 49ers, the Bears may have a chance to get hot at the right time and go on a Super Bowl run of their own.
• Luther Burden is a star in the making. Burden has become increasingly involved in the Bears’ offense and was the team’s top receiver against the 49ers. He tallied 138 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions, showing off a knack for getting open and shiftiness that could make him a big-time playmaker. Burden looks like an ideal, long-term complement for Rome Odunze, so the Bears have to be excited about the young core of weapons it has already built around Williams.

49ers vs. Bears highlights

49ers vs. Bears final score: San Francisco 42, Chicago 38

Caleb Williams got the Bears a goal-to-go opportunity after a hook-and-ladder play got Chicago to the 2-yard line. With just four seconds left in the game, Williams snapped the ball and tried to find an open receiver. The 49ers were sticky in coverage and didn’t allowed anyone to get free.

Bryce Huff was the first 49er to pressure Williams, who eventually had to release the ball with Yetur Gross-Matos baring down on him. The throw fell short of the Chicago receiver in the end-zone, clinching a victory for the 49ers and keeping them in the NFC West race.

Caleb Williams completes fourth-down pass to Colston Loveland

The Bears were facing a fourth-and-5 after a couple of incompletions. Williams got time to throw in the pocket and found Loveland open beyond the sticks.

The Bears used their final timeout and there are 26 seconds remaining in regulation. Chicago needs 13 yards to take the lead.

Bears have ball on 49ers’ 26-yard line with 40 seconds left

Caleb Williams and the Bears have methodically moved the ball down the field since getting it back after San Francisco’s touchdown. They are now facing a second-and-5 from the 49ers’ 26-yard line. The Bears have 40 seconds and two timeouts remaining.

Jauan Jennings catches 38-yard TD pass from Brock Purdy to give 49ers lead

The 49ers have re-taken the lead. This time, it’s Jauan Jennings who managed to hit pay-dirt. The veteran receiver came across the middle of the field and found a pocket of space behind the Bears’ linebackers. He then got a quality screen from Ricky Pearsall and managed to run the ball into the end-zone for the score.

Eddy Pineiro’s extra point was good, so the Bears will have 2:15 to overcome a four-point deficit.

49ers 42, Bears 38

Cairo Santos makes 29-yard field goal to give Bears lead

For the first time since opening the game with a pick-six, the Bears have taken a lead against the 49ers. Chicago mounted an 11-play, 78-yard drive but couldn’t quite punch the ball into the end-zone.

Santos was called upon on a fourth-and-goal from the 11-yard line and made the 29-yard kick. The Bears are now leading 38-35 with 5:22 left in regulation.

Bears 38, 49ers 35

Bears pressure Brock Purdy, force Thomas Morstead’s 1,000th punt

The Bears finally managed to stop the 49ers from scoring again. This time, defensive lineman Austin Booker beat backup left tackle Austen Pleasants and pressured Purdy as he was throwing. The quarterback’s throw bounced to the ground as a result, and Morstead was called on to attempt his 1,000th career punt.

Morstead’s kick was a good one, and Devin Duvernay was forced to fair catch it at the 11-yard line. There is 11:23 remaining in regulation and the Bears will now look to take their first lead since it was 7-0.

D’Andre Swift scores 22-yard touchdown to open fourth quarter

The Bears have once again tied the game. One play after Caleb Williams completed a fourth-down pass to Colston Loveland to move the chains, Swift took a hand-off to the left side of the line and his blockers opened up a big lane for him.

Cairo Santos made the extra point to tie the game at 35. The game has been tied at 7, 14, 21, 28 and now 35, which NBC’s play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico said had never before happened in the NFL regular season.

Bears 35, 49ers 35

How much does Brock Purdy get paid?

Purdy is making just $1.1 million in salary this season, which is the last of the four-year rookie deal he signed with the 49ers after being selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, Purdy signed a five-year, $265 million extension during the offseason that will kick in during the 2026 NFL season. He also got a $40 million signing bonus for the 2025 NFL season, per Spotrac.com, so he actually made just over $41.1 million in 2025 when factoring in a $8,820 workout bonus in his contract.

Purdy’s average annual value (AAV) of $53 million per season on his extension is tied for the seventh-highest in the NFL with Jared Goff. His total contract value of $265 million ranks fifth-highest in the NFL behind only Patrick Mahomes ($450 million), Josh Allen ($330 million), Joe Burrow ($275 million) and Trevor Lawrence ($275 million).

Brock Purdy tosses 6-yard TD to Kyle Juszczyk to put 49ers ahead

The 49ers have now scored touchdowns on all five of their red-zone possessions. This time, Purdy made an incredible play after a play-action pass. He was pressured by a couple of Bears defenders but managed to find a lane through them. He then acted as if he was going to run before throwing the ball back to Juszczyk, who was wide open in the end-zone.

Eddy Pineiro made the extra point and San Francisco is once again up by seven.

49ers 35, Bears 28

Trent Williams injury update

The 49ers have officially ruled starting left tackle Trent Williams out for the remainder of Sunday’s game because of a hamstring injury.

Williams suffered the injury on the first play of the game, a Brock Purdy pick-six. Austen Pleasants will continue to play in place of Williams, as he did in the first half.

Bears tie game with D’Andre Swift TD run to open second half

The Bears enjoyed a strong start to the second half. They held the ball for 5:09 and marched down the field, with Caleb Williams hitting Jahdae Walker for a key 19-yard connection on a third-and-14 and Luther Burden scooting for a 23-yard gain after catching a dump-off from Williams.

Chicago capped the drive with a Swift run. The veteran back took the ball around the right side of the line and managed to find a lane into the end-zone.

Cairo Santos then banged through an extra point to tie the game back up early in the second half.

Bears 28, 49ers 28

Bears playoff scenarios

The Bears have already wrapped up the NFC North and a top-three seed in the NFC. However, their game against the 49ers will decide whether Chicago has a chance to remain in the race for the NFC’s No. 1 overall pick.

With a win against the 49ers, the Bears would clinch a top-two seed in the NFC. However, a loss would ensure Chicago would either get the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, pending the results of the team’s Week 18 game against the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles’ game against the Washington Commanders.

49ers playoff scenarios

The 49ers have already clinched a playoff berth but need to win against the Bears to remain in the NFC West race.

Below is a look at how the 49ers can clinch the NFC West:

• 49ers win vs. Bears in Week 17 AND
• 49ers win vs. Seahawks in Week 18

If the 49ers can’t beat both the Bears and the Seahawks, they would be either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the NFC.

Caleb Williams stats at halftime

Williams and the Bears ran just 19 plays compared to the 49ers’ 47 in the first half. As such, Williams’ stats aren’t quite as impressive as Purdy’s.

Williams has completed 6 of 12 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. He had two nice downfield strikes to Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland for the touchdowns but will need to improve upon his shorter-area accuracy to sustain drives in the second half.

Christian McCaffrey stats at halftime

The 49ers have leaned on McCaffrey as their top offensive weapon with George Kittle (ankle) unavailable for Sunday’s game. McCaffrey has generated 121 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries while adding two catches for 20 yards through the air.

Brock Purdy stats at halftime

Purdy has remained hot during his Week 17 ‘Sunday Night Football’ game. He has completed 14 of 20 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown while adding 23 yards and two scores on five rushes.

Purdy’s lone blemish was the pick-six he threw on the first play of the game. Since then, he has been razor-sharp, leading the 49ers to 330 total yards of offense in the first half.

49ers take 28-21 lead into halftime

The 49ers have just a seven-point lead over the Bears, but San Francisco has been dominant across the first 30 minutes of action.

The 49ers completely controlled the clock, holding onto the ball for 21:56 of the first half. They generated a whopping 330 yards of offense in the first half and only punted once despite losing left tackle Trent Williams to a hamstring injury on the first play of the game.

To their credit, the Bears have stayed in Sunday’s game. Caleb Williams has tossed a couple of long touchdowns to rookies Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland while T.J. Edwards opened the game with a pick-six that gave Chicago an early lead.

The Bears will get the ball first coming out of the locker room. They will be looking to sustain drives and keep their defense from tiring in what has thus far been a high-scoring shootout.

Brock Purdy scores 3-yard touchdown on read-option run

Purdy scored his first rushing touchdown of the game on a scramble. His second came on a designed read-option run during which he kept the ball after a fake to Christian McCaffrey. Eddy Pineiro made his fourth extra point of the game to give the 49ers a touchdown lead once again.

San Francisco’s score came just a couple of plays after Purdy threw an interception that was nullified by an illegal use of hands to the face penalty against the Bears.

49ers 28, Bears 21

Caleb Williams hits Colston Loveland for 36-yard TD on free play

Williams managed to get the 49ers to jump offside just before the snap, creating an opportunity for a free play. The second-year quarterback hung back in the pocket and scanned the field while moving to his right before finding Loveland, a rookie tight end, open near the goal-line.

Williams deliver an accurate strike to Loveland, who brought the ball down for a 36-yard touchdown. Cairo Santos made the extra point and the Bears and 49ers are once again tied with 12:20 left in the second quarter.

Bears 21, 49ers 21

Christian McCaffrey scores 5-yard TD on toss play

The 49ers’ latest touchdown drive was capped off by McCaffrey, who took a toss around the right side of San Francisco’s offensive line and was able to weave through the Bears defense for an easy score.

Eddy Pineiro makes the extra point again and the 49ers are once again up by a touchdown.

49ers 21, Bears 14

Caleb Williams hits Luther Burden III for 35-yard TD

The Bears have scored their first offensive touchdown of Sunday’s game. Williams was able to deliver a perfect downfield strike to the rookie Burden, who gained separation from the San Francisco secondary to make the catch in the end-zone.

Cairo Santos made the extra point and the teams are once again all square with 2:58 left in the first quarter.

Bears 14, 49ers 14

Where did Brock Purdy go to college?

Purdy played collegiately at Iowa State. He was a four-year starter for the Cyclones and completed 67.7% of his passes for 12,170 yards, 81 touchdowns and 33 interceptions over the course of his career.

Purdy’s strong performance was enough to get him drafted, but just barely. He was the 262nd (and final) pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has since cemented his legacy as one of the best ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ picks in league history.

Brock Purdy scrambles for 10-yard TD to give 49ers lead

The 49ers quickly got into scoring range after getting the ball back from the Bears thanks to a 41-yard run by Christian McCaffrey. Purdy finished off the drive by finding a running lane off a bootleg left and diving across the goal-line to give the 49ers their first lead of the game.

Eddy Pineiro made the extra point and San Francisco now has a seven-point lead.

49ers 14, Bears 7

49ers punt for first time since November

The 49ers went two full games without punting to open December. They managed two more drives in their third one before Thomas Morstead was called on to punt for the first time since Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns.

Morstead unleashed a 49-yarder that pinned the Bears back at their own 16-yard line.

When was the Bears’ last Super Bowl win?

The Bears have just one Super Bowl win in their history. That came in Super Bowl 20, which was played in January 2026 to determine the champion of the 1985 NFL season.

The Bears beat the New England Patriots 46-10 in a game during which Chicago ran for four touchdowns with Jim McMahon, Matt Suhey and William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry.

Brock Purdy finds Jake Tonges wide open for 1-yard TD

The 49ers managed to strike back quickly against the Bears. Purdy hit Demarcus Robinson for a 25-yard gain that set San Francisco up with a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

The 49ers ran a hard, play-action fake on first-and-goal and Tonges was able to completely lose the defense. Purdy tossed him an easy touchdown before Eddy Pineiro made the extra point to tie the game after San Francisco’s early gaffe.

49ers 7, Bears 7

Trent Williams injury update

The 49ers didn’t just throw an interception on the first play of the game. Their star left tackle, Trent Williams, also suffered an apparent injury. He was receiving treatment in the blue medical tent during San Francisco’s second drive and was replaced at his post by backup Austen Pleasants.

The 49ers didn’t immediately provide an update on Williams’ status but later announced he was ‘questionable’ to return because of a hamstring injury.

Brock Purdy throws pick-six on first offensive snap

The 49ers are off to about as bad a start as possible to their ‘Sunday Night Football’ game against the Bears. Purdy tried to fire a pass over the middle of the field to Jauan Jennings to open the game, but Chicago cornerback Jaylon Johnson managed to jump the route and tip it into the air.

T.J. Edwards came down with the deflection and found a clear path to the end-zone, following his blockers to get an early-game score.

Cairo Santos drilled the extra point and the Bears are leading by a touchdown just 15 seconds into the game.

Bears 7, 49ers 0

Why isn’t George Kittle playing?

Kittle suffered an ankle injury in the 49ers’ win over the Indianapolis Colts on ‘Monday Night Football.’ The veteran tight end was unable to practice ahead of the team’s game against the Chicago Bears, so the 49ers listed him as inactive for Sunday’s game.

The 49ers have already clinched a playoff berth, so that may have led the team to approach Kittle’s injury with caution. San Francisco still has a chance to win the NFC West but will need to beat Chicago to create a battle for the division against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18.

Bears ‘VMH’ patch, explained

The Bears added the ‘VMH’ jersey patch for the 2025 NFL season to pay tribute to their former owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, who died in February at the age of 102.

McCaskey inherited ownership of the Bears from her father, George Halas Sr., following his death in 1983. She oversaw the team when it won Super Bowl 20 following the 1985 NFL season and was the longest-tenured owner at the time of her passing.

Like her father’s ‘GSH’ patch, McCaskey’s patch features a permutation of her initials, which were ‘VHM.’ The ‘VMH’ patch places McCaskey’s last name as the centerpiece of the logo, while her maiden name-turned-middle initial is on the right side of it.

What does ‘GSH’ on the Chicago Bears uniform mean?

That acronym is a reference to the team’s founding owner, George Stanley Halas Sr. It has been incorporated into Chicago’s uniforms since 1983, following his death at age 83.

Chicago Bears inactives list

• WR Rome Odunze
• WR Olamide Zaccheaus
• QB Case Keenum
• CB Dallis Flowers
• DB Nick McCloud
• LB Ruben Hyppolite II
• OL Luke Newman

San Francisco 49ers inactives list

• TE George Kittle
• WR Jordan Watkins
• DL Robert Beal Jr.
• RB Isaac Guerendo
• DL Kevin Givens
• CB Renardo Green
• LB Curtis Robinson

What TV channel is the 49ers vs. Bears game?

• TV channel: NBC

The Week 17 game between the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears game will be broadcast by NBC on Sunday. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (game analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) will be on the call for the ‘Sunday Night Football’ contest.

What time is the Bears at 49ers game?

• Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET

The 49ers vs. Bears game will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 28.

49ers vs. Bears live stream

• Live stream: Peacock

Per usual, NBC will simulcast its ‘Sunday Night Football’ offering on Peacock, its proprietary streaming service. Cord-cutters can also catch the action on the NFL’s own streaming service, NFL+.

Watch ‘Sunday Night Football’ with Peacock

49ers vs. Bears prediction, picks

Here’s how the NFL experts at USA TODAY Sports believe the Week 17 matchup between the 49ers and Bears will shake out:

• Jarrett Bell: 49ers, 26-24
• Nick Brinkerhoff: 49ers, 28-24
• Chris Bumbaca: 49ers, 29-25
• Nate Davis: 49ers, 24-23
• Tyler Dragon: Bears, 25-21
• Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: 49ers, 35-28

49ers vs. Bears odds, moneyline, O/U

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 6:15 p.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): 49ers -200 (Bet $200 to win $100) | Bears +165 (Bet $100 to win $165)
• Against the spread (ATS): 49ers -3.5 (-105) | Bears +3.5 (-115)
• Over/Under (O/U): 52.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Is George Kittle playing today vs. Bears on Sunday night?

The 49ers’ star tight end is officially inactive for tonight’s game.

Kittle was considered ‘highly unlikely’ to play on ‘Sunday Night Football’ against the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He was expected to test his ankle before the team announced its inactives but it appears he needs more time to recover.

49ers inactives today vs. Bears

• RB Isaac Guerendo
• WR Jordan Watkins
• TE George Kittle
• DL Kevin Givens
• CB Renardo Green
• LB Curtis Robinson
• DL Robert Beal Jr.

Bears inactives today vs. 49ers

• QB Case Keenum
• WR Rome Odunze
• WR Olamide Zaccheaus
• CB Dallis Flowers
• DB Nick McCloud
• LB Ruben Hyppolite II
• OL Luke Newman

NFL playoff picture: NFC bracket

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3, NFC West leaders)*
2. Chicago Bears (11-4, NFC North winners)*
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East winners)*
4. Carolina Panthers (8-8, NFC South leaders)
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4, wild card No. 1)*
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4, wild card No. 2)*
7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

NFL playoff picture: AFC Bracket

1. Denver Broncos (13-3, AFC West winners)*
2. New England Patriots (13-3, AFC East winners)*
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, AFC South leaders)*
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)
5. Houston Texans (11-5, wild card No. 1)*
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, wild card No. 3)*
7. Buffalo Bills (11-5, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched

NFC West standings

The 49ers enter tonight’s game tied with the Rams in second place in the division. They are ahead by virtue of the division head-to-head record.

• Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
• San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
• Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
• Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

NFC North standings

The Bears have locked up the NFC North division title for the first time since 2018 after the Packers’ loss to the Ravens on Saturday in Week 17.

1. Chicago Bears (11-4)* NFC North winners
2. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
4. Detroit Lions (8-8)

Bears remaining schedule

• Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
• Week 18: vs. Detroit Lions (8-8)

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NFL draft order 2026

Here’s a look at the latest draft order for the first round with strength of schedule information via Tankathon:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-14; .544 SOS
2. New York Giants: 3-13 record; .531 strength of schedule
3. New York Jets: 3-13, .548 SOS
4. Tennessee Titans: 3-13, .576 SOS
5. Arizona Cardinals: 3-13; .577 SOS
6. Cleveland Browns: 4-12, .494 SOS
7. Washington Commanders: 4-12; .504 SOS
8. New Orleans Saints: 6-10; .491 SOS
9. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-10; .511 SOS
10. Cincinnati Bengals: 6-10; .520 SOS
11. Atlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 6-9; .498 SOS
12. Miami Dolphins: 7-9; .487 SOS
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-8, .530 SOS
14. Dallas Cowboys: 7-8-1; .430 SOS
15. Detroit Lions: 8-8; .493 SOS
16. Baltimore Ravens: 8-8; .507 SOS
17. Minnesota Vikings: 8-8; .515 SOS
18. Indianapolis Colts (pick belongs to Jets): 8-8; .537 SOS
19. Carolina Panthers: 8-8, .521 SOS
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7; .513 SOS
21. Green Bay Packers (pick belongs to Cowboys): 9-6-1; .479 SOS
22. Los Angeles Chargers: 11-5; .461 SOS
23. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5; .469 SOS
24. Buffalo Bills: 11-5, .472 SOS
25. Houston Texans: 11-5; .530 SOS
26. San Francisco 49ers: 11-4, .494 SOS
27. Los Angeles Rams: 11-4, .526 SOS
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (pick belongs to Browns): 12-4; .487 SOS
29. Chicago Bears: 11-4; .450 SOS
30. New England Patriots: 13-3; .386 SOS
31. Denver Broncos: 13-3; .425 SOS
32. Seattle Seahawks: 13-3; .494 SOS

AI-assisted summary
• Simone Biles was on the sidelines as a credentialed photographer for the Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers game.
• Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, is a safety for the Chicago Bears.
• The decorated Olympic gymnast often travels to support her husband at his games.

When she’s not winning gold medals, Simone Biles stays busy.

Her latest quest? Becoming a NFL photographer.

The decorated American Olympic gymnast, with seven gold medals to her name, roamed the sidelines of the San Francisco 49ers’ 42-38 victory over the Chicago Bears prior to and during ‘Sunday Night Football’ as a credentialed photographer.

Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, is a safety for the Bears. The couple wed in 2023. Biles often travels to his away games, but she’s not typically on the clock.

Biles is not the first athlete to take photography more seriously than a hobby. Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. has been credentialed for major golf tournaments and former pitcher Randy Johnson has published works chronicling wildlife in Africa. Biles’ fellow Team USA gymnast, Suni Lee, recently snapped some shots at a Minnesota Vikings game.

Owens has seen his role largely confined to special teams over the last month of the season.

The NFL’s Week 18 schedule is finally here.

The penultimate week of regular-season action clarified which few pieces of the playoff puzzle still have to fall in place. With that coming into focus, the league was able to determine a setup for every team’s finale.

The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet on Saturday afternoon to determine the likely winner of the NFC South (barring the Atlanta Falcons winning out). Then, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers will clash Saturday night with the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line.

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will close out the season on Sunday night to decide the AFC North title.

Here’s a look at the NFL Week 18 schedule with times and dates for all 16 showdowns:

NFL Week 18 schedule

Saturday, Jan. 3

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:30 p.m. ET

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 8 p.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 4

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m. ET

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET

Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET

If it’s going to happen, it’s going to require a full 17 games for Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett to take possession of what is perhaps the NFL’s most coveted and well-known defensive record – the single-season mark for quarterback sacks. He needs just one to eclipse the standard of 22½ set by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan nearly a quarter of a century ago (with an assist from Brett Favre) and matched by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt in 2021.

Yet Garrett is hardly the only star seeking entry into the league’s record book as the 2025 campaign winds down and certainly not the only one who could benefit from the bloated schedule. Here are four other stars (and one team) chasing history of their own, some of these marks in much more immediate jeopardy than others:

Trey McBride – most receptions by a tight end in a season

The Washington Commanders’ Zach Ertz broke new ground seven years ago, hauling in 116 balls when he was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. McBride, the Arizona Cardinals’ two-time Pro Bowler – and, arguably, their best player – needed eight more grabs over the final two weeks to overtake Ertz’s benchmark. (UPDATE: McBride broke the record in Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati, his 10 receptions putting him at 119.)

Christian McCaffrey – most 1,000-1,000-yard seasons

In 2019, CMC joined Roger Craig and Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as the only players to gain 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. With 110 yards through the air in Week 18, McCaffrey would become the first to accomplish the feat multiple times.

Christian McCaffrey – most receiving yards by a running back in a season

He’d need an even 159 in the last game to top Faulk’s mark (1,048) in the Super Bowl era, which began in 1966.

Denver Broncos – most sacks by a team in a season

The 1985 Chicago Bears are immortalized as perhaps the greatest squad to ever grace a football field. But it was the ’84 Bears who racked up 72 sacks, the most ever by one club. The 2025 Denver Broncos have slowed down in that department lately but have 64 of their own. They’d need quite a performance in the regular-season finale to catch Da Bears, but it’s possible − especially against the Los Angeles Chargers’ leaky offensive line.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua – most receiving yards in a season

They’re long shots at this point, though JSN’s Seattle Seahawks will have more at stake than Nacua’s Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. Smith-Njigba leads the league with 1,709 receiving yards, while Nacua, who missed Week 7 with an ankle injury, has 1,592. Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson – Megatron – set the record in 2012 with 1,964 yards. Nacua, who plays Monday in Atlanta, has eclipsed 170 in three outings this year, including a career-high 225 in his most recent one – the epic 39-38 loss to Smith-Njigba’s Seahawks. JSN hasn’t hit 170 in a game in 2025 but has surpassed 160 twice. But given none of us his teammates are within 1,000 yards of him, he could go off at any time as the lone guy Pro Bowl QB Sam Darnold routinely feeds.

Bijan Robinson – most yards from scrimmage in a season

The Atlanta Falcons star leads the NFL with 2,026 combined rushing and receiving yards. It would take some serious doing to bypass Chris Johnson, who had 2,509 in 2009 – CJ2K is still the only player to hit the 2,500 plateau. But funny things happen in prime time, and Robinson’s Falcons host Nacua and the Rams on Monday night … and have little left to play for aside from playing spoiler − specifically to the NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers − and maybe chasing some outrageous historical numbers. Keep an eye on No. 7.